Our VEG 1 multivitamin was introduced back in 2005 to provide a convenient and affordable way to support a vegan lifestyle. VEG 1 has always been gluten-free, yeast-free, wheat-free and lactose-free. We can now add plastic-free to that list!
That’s right, our VEG 1 multivitamin is now 100% plastic-free, from the pot it comes in to the materials used for postage. We have ditched the white plastic pot and switched to a 100% recyclable, sleek aluminium tin.
We believe that vegan multivitamins should support your health, your bank balance and the planet. Although plastic-free packaging isn’t revolutionary, we are proud of the considerable impact that this seemingly small change will have. The switch from plastic to aluminium will save 3200 kilograms of plastic each year*! That’s just over 3 tonnes of plastic, the weight of a white rhinoceros or two medium-sized cars.
Why aluminium?
It was nearly two years ago that we set off to find a plastic-free packaging solution, naively thinking the switch would be a quick project. To tell you the truth, we experienced many setbacks, including the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. We also discovered that finding a plastic-free solution that would keep VEG 1 fresh and dry while providing a suitable shelf life was more challenging than expected.
We even asked our VEG 1 buyers what they thought would work, and that’s why we settled on tins. Aluminium is the perfect packaging option for multivitamins. It has a low moisture transition rate and protects from reactive elements in the air, keeping VEG 1 fresh. Here are a few fun facts about aluminium:
- An astonishing 80% of all metal ever produced in the world is still in use today.
- Metal packaging is recycled more than any other primary packaging material.
- 75% of all aluminium is recycled in the UK. In comparison, less than half of all plastic is recycled.
- Aluminium and other metals can be recycled infinitely, without any degradation in quality. You can see how this compares to other packaging materials below (most of which we considered when we wanted to make the switch):
|
Paper |
5 to 7 times |
|
Cardboard |
3 to 4 times |
|
Glass |
Infinitely |
|
Plastic |
Once |
|
Polystyrene |
Once |
|
Aluminum, copper and other metals |
Infinitely |
‘Plastic’ has become a bit of a dirty word in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. As vegans, the plastic problem is particularly close to our hearts. With plastic waste outnumbering sea life by six to one, the impact to wildlife is devastating. Thankfully, consumers are demanding more sustainable options – and rightly so.
We’ve ditched the plastic, but we can promise that isn’t the end. We are committed to consistently reviewing the sustainability of our products and implementing changes wherever we can.
You can shop VEG 1 by clicking here.
Are you interested in stocking VEG 1? Find out more about becoming a wholesaler.
*This is calculated by multiplying the weight of an empty VEG 1 plastic pot by the number of pots we sold last year plus 5% growth.
The views expressed by our bloggers are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
